September OwlCrate: Mythical Creatures

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Good tidings, friends! I received the September OwlCrate recently, and it was stocked full of items curated perfectly for the theme "Mythical Creatures." In addition to the spoiler card, OwlCrate included a booklet with extra activities and interview questions from the author. I like this new addition- I think it helps give context to the whole theme, and I hope they include it in future boxes as well!

This is an OwlCrate exclusive die-cut sticker. It's very good quality and really cute, to boot! Hagrid is such an underrepresented character in bookish merchandise, plus that Hippogriff looks so happy. Dare I say that this sticker is almost too cute to use?

Now, for the star of the box! Well, we know the real jewel is the exclusive book, but there was a ton of hype around the book sleeve that was going to be included. Not only is this book sleeve an exclusive print that Book Beau designed, but they're also notoriously difficult to snag, since they run out of stock so quickly.

I love this fantasy print. It did arrive wrinkled, since OwlCrate had to squeeze it into the box. However, the sleeve smoothed out once I stuffed a book in it and carried it around for a bit. It's small, meant for indie paperbacks. It certainly did not fit the hardback that was included in the book. I heard that some people received defective Book Beaus, where the top was narrower than the bottom, or seams were split. I guess I got lucky! This is truly a big ticket item.

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Coin Pouch, OwlCrate, est $3

OwlCrate designed a dragon-themed coin pouch for the box. It's your normal canvas pouch. I wasn't amazed by it, but I'm sure I'll use it at some point.

The Daenarys print on this bookmark is gorgeous! The colors are stunning. My only concern is that the wood is rather thin. I'm nervous that I might bend it the wrong way by accident and snap it in half.

The book included this month was Before She Ignites, by Jodi Meadows. The edition that was in the OwlCrate was exclusive (again!) with the text and dragon tail in gold. I think it really pops against the dark background. Of course, there was a signed bookplate and author letter as well. There was also a mini guide to the dragons that appear throughout the book.

Mira Minkoba is the Hopebearer. Since the day she was born, she’s been told she’s special. Important. Perfect. She’s known across the Fallen Isles not just for her beauty, but for the Mira Treaty named after her, a peace agreement which united the seven islands against their enemies on the mainland.

But Mira has never felt as perfect as everyone says. She counts compulsively. She struggles with crippling anxiety. And she’s far too interested in dragons for a girl of her station.

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Then Mira discovers an explosive secret that challenges everything she and the Treaty stand for. Betrayed by the very people she spent her life serving, Mira is sentenced to the Pit–the deadliest prison in the Fallen Isles. There, a cruel guard would do anything to discover the secret she would die to protect.

No longer beholden to those who betrayed her, Mira must learn to survive on her own and unearth the dark truths about the Fallen Isles–and herself–before her very world begins to collapse.

Total Value: $44.20

I paid: $29.99 plus shipping

Verdict: The box value is great, mostly because of the big-ticket item- the book sleeve. However, there were a few smaller items, like the dragon coin pouch and sticker that made the box feel like it might not have been worth as much as it really was. I wasn't satisfied with every single item, but I can appreciate that the box delivered on value.

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The theme for next month is "Find Me in the Forest!" We know that there will be a mug inspired by Harry Potter in this next box and the book will have an exclusive cover and signed bookplate. What do you think the book will be? leave your guesses below!